Flow control valve



Aug. 31, 1954 H. E. BARRETT ET A1. 2,687,868

FLOW CONTROL. VALVE Filed May 3l. 1959 HILLARD E. ARRET I: DNETANTIBE. CDNETANTINEI.

ATTDRNEY Patented Aug. 3l, 1954 ,rra artnr tric FLOW CONTRL VALVE Delaware Application May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,206

7 Claims.

This invention relates to flow regulating apparatus and is particularly directed to such apparatus having a flow regulating valve whose Dosition is automatically controlled.

An object of the present invention comprises the provision of novel now regulating appara-tus having a flow regulating valve whose position depends substantially only on the magnitude of a control force. A further object of the invention comprises the provision of novel now regulating apparatus having a flow regulating valve whose position is independent of changes in the pressure of the fluid. whose iiow is being regulated. A still further object of the invention comprises the provision of novel llow regulating apparatus in which the position of the flow regulating valve is controlled by an auxiliary valve requiring relatively little force for its operation.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the next detailed description in connection with the drawing in which;

Figure l is a sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring iirst to Figure 1 of the drawing, a valve housing ill has a passage l2 therethrough including an inlet port M and an outlet port It. As schematically illustrated, a pump It supplies a fluid (which for example may be a liquid fuel) to the valve passage i2. A valve seat 2l) is secured about said passage l2 between said ports and a poppet-type valve 22 is mounted in said passage for movement toward and away from said valve seat for controlling uid flow through said passage. The valve 22 has a guide stem 2li coaxial therewith, said stem being slidably fitted within a collar 26 secured to the valve seat 20 by spokes 253. The valve 22 is connected to the housing lll by a bellows-type flexible diaphragm 3B. A compression spring 32 is disposed between the housing It and the valve 22 for urging said valve toward the valve seat 20. Obviously, however, the bellows 30 itself may provide a suflicient spring force urging the valve 22 in a closing direction in which case the spring 32 would be eliminated.

The bellows 3i! forms a chamber 34 in the housing lf2 out of communication with the passage l2 except through a restricted passage provided by hole 3S through the valve stem 2li. The uid entering the chamber 34 through the restricted passage 36 flows out of said chamber through Va passage yElli under the control of an auxiliary valve 4D for controlling the V.position of the main valve however, the passage 3S may ventthe chamber` 3d to any suitable low pressure source. The auxiliary valve #it is movable toward and away from a valve seat t2 for controlling the escape of uid from the chamber 3ft. The valve seat l2 has a sleeve portion lll secured to the housing Hl and the auxiliary valve lill has a plurality of projections l slidingly engaging said sleeve portion for guiding the Valve lill. The valve lil is thread edly secured to stern it and a plate 50 is secured to said stem and to the valve tit. A compression spring t2 is disposed in the chamber 34 between the plate 5t and the main valve 22 whereby the spring 52 urges both valves 22 and 4G in a closing direction and each of Said valves provides the reaction to the force 0f the spring 52 against the other of said valves.

rThe valve stem t8 extends through a housing partition member 5ft and a bellows-type iiexible diaphragm 5S connects the adjacent end of the valve stem i8 to said partition member. The effective diameter of the bellows 5tl is substantially the same as the effective diameter of the auxiliary valve lil so that the pressure of the duid on the discharge side of said auxiliary valve is balanced by the pressure of said fluid against the facing end of the valve stern 48 and the bellows 5S. 'Said end of the valve stem i3 is also connected to the adjacent end of the housing It by a bellows-type nexible diaphragm 5B having the same effective diameter as that of the valve it and bellows 5t. En addition the valve stem d3 has a bore 59 therethru whereby the force of the iiuid pressure in the chamber 3d against the valve stem i8 and auxiliary valve it is balanced by the force of the same -uid pressure in the bellows 55 against the valve stem lid.

The valve stem is is also connected to the housing lll by a bellows-type exible diaphragm 55 larger than and surrounding the bellows 5S. A fluid pressure fitting 52 is secured to and projects from the housing l0 for applying a control iiuid pressure into the bellows 6G about the bellows 58 through a longitudinal passage Sli and radial passages Et. As illustrated, the iitting $2 is formed integral with the adjacent end of the bellows 518. The exterior of the bellows 6@ is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere through one or more holes tt in the housing it. In general the absolute magnitude of a control pressure, such as supplied to the bellows 50, will vary with changes in the surrounding atmosplieric pressure. In such case, since the exterior of the bellows E is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere the pressure differential across the bellows 60 will be independent of variations in the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.

The rate of fluid flow through the restricted passage 36 is very small so that the range of movement of the auxiliary valve 40 between its full open and closed positions is very small or negligible compared to the range of movement of the main valve 22. Preferably, the auxiliary valve 40 has as large a diameter as practical in order to reduce its range of movement to a minimum.

With the aforedescribed structure, the fluid pressure in the chamber 34 is less than the fluid pressure on the upstream side of the main valve 22 by an amount equal to the fluid pressure drop through the restricted passage 35. This fluid pressure differential urges the main valve 22 in an opening direction against the force of the springs 32 and 52. Accordingly, the main valve 22 assumes a position in which the force of said springs is balanced by said pressure uid differential. Similarly the auxiliary valve 40 automatically assumes a position in which the force of the spring 52 against said valve is balanced by the force of the fluid pressure within the bellows 60 against the stem 48 of said valve 40. If the control pressure fluid applied through the fitting 62 to the interior of the bellows |30 is increased, then the auxiliary valve 40 opens against the spring 52 to increase the rate of fiuid flow through the restricted passage 35 thereby increasing the fluid pressure differential acting on the main valve 22,. As a result, the main valve 22 moves in an opening direction. This movement of the main valve 22 increases the force exerted against the auxiliary valve 40 by the spring 52 and effects a closing adjustment of said auxiliary valve thereby reducing the fluid pressured differential acting on main valve 22. Thus, upon an increase in the control fluid pressure within the bellows 60 the fluid pressure difierential across the main valve 22 is increased so that said main valve 22 moves in an opening direction until the force of the springs 32 and 52 against said main valve is again balanced by said fluid pressure differential. Similarly, a decrease in the control fluid pressure applied to the bellows 610 lznroduces a closing adjustment of the main valve Because the spring 52 interconnects the main valve 22 with the auxiliary valve 40, movement of the main valve 22 is accompanied by a followup movement of the auxiliary Valve 40 in a direction to help rebalance the forces acting on said main valve. In addition, because of the spring 52, the position of the main valve 22 is substantially independent of changes in the fluid pressure in the passage |2 and/or the fluid pressure to which the chamber 34 is vented through the passage 3S whereby the position of said main valve is a linear function of the magnitude of the control fluid pressure within the bellows 50.

main valve 22 for each magnitude of the control pressure within the bellows 80. For example if the fluid pressure upstream of the main valve 22 should decrease then there would be a decrease in the flow through the restricted passage 36 so that the main valve 22 would start to move in a closing direction thereby reducing the force of the spring 52 on the auxiliary valve 40. As a result, the auxiliary valve 40 would open thereby increasing the fluid flow through the restricted passage 36 until the fluid pressure differential across the main valve 22 became sufficient to move said main valve to its original position in which the force of the spring 52 on the auxiliary valve 40 again balances the control pressure in the bellows 60.

The spring 32 acts only against the main valve 22 while the spring 52 acts against both valves 22 and 40 whereby the fluid pressure force required to move the auxiliary valve 40 only needs to overcome-the force of the spring 52 whereby the fluid pressure force required to open said auxiliary valve is small compared to the fluid pressure force required to open the main valve 22.

Figure 2 illustrates modified construction of the invention. The modification illustrated in Figure 2 has been designed for controlling air flow to an air turbine. This general combination is similar to that illustrated in copending application Serial No. 57,144 filed October 29th, 1948 in the name of Barrett et al., and now abandoned.

In Figure 2, air under pressure is supplied through a duct |00 for flow through an annular passage |02 from which it is directed by guide vanes |03 to the rotor blades of an air turbine (not shown). The Valve |04 is movable toward and away from a valve seat |00 for controlling air now from the duct |00 to the annular passage |02. In Figure 2, the full lines illustrate the valve |04 in its full open position and the dot and dash lines illustrate said valve in its closed position.

rI'he duct |00 and annular passage |02 form a housing for the valve |04 and its control mechanism. A bellows-type flexible diaphragm |03 is connected at one end to the periphery of the valve |04 and at its other end to a housing niember |09. The exible bellows |08 provides a spring force urging the valve |04 in a closing direction, As in Figure 1, in addition to or in lieu of any spring force provided by the bellows |08, a separate compression spring may be provided between the housing member |09 and the valve |04 urging the valve in a closing direction. The bellows |08 also provides a chamber ||0 on the rear side of the valve |04 and said valve is provided with a restricted passage ||2 providing for air flow into the chamber ||0 from the duct |00.

The valve |04 constitutes the main valve for controlling air flow through the duct |00 into the annular passage |02. The main valve |04 is slidable on a hollow rod H4, a bushing l5 being provided between said valve and the rod 4. The rodA ||4 has a longitudinal passage ||6 therethrough and one end of said rod projects through a wall of the duct |00 into the surrounding atmosphere. The other end ||8 of the rod H4 is enlarged and said enlarged end is threadeclly secured to a member |22 which in turn is secured to the housing member |09. An annular valve seat |24 is formed on the end of the member |22 adjacent to the enlarged end H8 of the member ||4. An auxiliary valve |26 is slidably supported by the member |22, said valve having a head portion cooperable With said seat |24 for controlling communication between the chambers |21 and |28 formed respectively within the enlargedendl lel'ofthero'd H 4 and Within'the adjacent portionpf the. member |22. lThe member E22 is 'also provided with one'or more openings 29 whereby the auxiliary valve i26- is movable to control the ratelat which air bleeds from the chamber itil through the openings IZS, chambers 23, lZ'l' and-the hollow rod lill and thence into the surrounding atmosphere.

A plate it@ is secured to the end of the stem 32 of the auxiliary valve i2@ byimeans of a bolt i353, said plate `having circumferentially spaced lingers ltd extending through'slots 38 in the member 22. A collar IESS is secured to the fine gers i3d and a compression spring lli@ is interposed between said vcollar and the main valve it. The spring le'urges both the main valve Sed and the auxiliary valve me in a closing direction, each said valve providing the'reaction to the force exerted by the spring Hill against the other of said valves.

l A bellows-*type exible diaphragm U52 is secured to the end of the valve stem |32 and tothe housing member Hi8, said bellows having substantiallgT the same effective diameter as that of the auxiliary valve 52e whereby said auxiliary valve is balanced as far as the uid pressure in the chamber l El? is concerned. A controlled above-atmospheric pressure is applied tothe interior of the'bellows iti through a passage Md for urging the auxiliary valve 22o in an opening direction against the spring Hill.

The of Figure 2 is essentially the saine as that of Figure l. in Figure 2, the chamber li@ behind the main valve i813 is vented to the surrounding atmosphere instead of to some other pressure-as in Figure l. Thus in Figure 1 the chamber Si behind the main valve 22 is vented to the inlet or" the pump It instead of to the surrounding atmosphere. Furthermore, in Figure 2 since the control pressure applied to the bellows M2 and thence to the auxiliary valve 125 has a predetermined aboveatmospheric magnitude, there no need in Figure 2 to balance said auX- iliary valve against changes in the atmospheric vent pressure. Accordingly, there is no equivalent in Figure 2 of the bellows 56 of Figure 1.

While we have described our invention in detail in its present preferred embodimentI it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding our invention, that various changes and modincations may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. We aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications.

We claim as our invention:

l. Apparatus for controlling the now of a fluid through a passage; said apparatus comprising a valve member movable to vary said flow; a second member movable to vary a force urging said valve member in an opening direction; elastic means for exerting a force against said valve member in a closing direction and for exerting a force against said second member in a direction for decreasing said first mentioned force, each said member providing the reaction to at least a portion of the force exerted by said elastic means against the other ot said members; and means for applying a gas pressure against said second member .in opposition to said elastic means such that said second member automatically moves to a position in which the force of said gas pressure thereon automatically balances the elastic means force thereon whereby variations in said gas pressure are effective to control the position of said valve member.

-v2. 'Apparatus-for'controlling the dowv of a uuid through a passage; said 'apparatus comprisingv a first valvemember movable in said passage to vary 'saidflow; `a second valve member movable in anropening direction to increase a fluid pressureidierential acting against and urging said first valve member in an opening direction; elastic means for exerting a force against both said'valve members in a closing direction, each valve memberprovi'ding the reaction to at least a portion or" the force exerted by said elastic means 'against the other valve member; and means for applying a gas pressure against said second valve :member urging said second valve member in an opening direction such that said second valve member automatically moves toa position inwhich'the force of said gas pressure thereon'balances'the elastic means force thereon whereby an increase in said gas pressure is effe'ctive to cause an opening adjustment of said first valve member.

`3. Apparatus for/controlling the flow of a uid; sai'd 'apparatus comprising a housing having a passage therethrough `for said iiuid; means including ia irst valve member movable in said passage for controlling uid flow therethrough, said means fprioviding a chamber Within said housing such that the fluid pressure within said chamber urges said valve member in a closing direction'against'the pressure of uid in said pas sage; a restricted passageway providing communication between saidpassage and said chamber for fluid flow from said passage into said chamber; a second valve member movable to control ythe escape of iiuid from said chamber; elastic means for 4exerting valve closing forces againstboth rsaid valve members, each said valve member providing the reaction to at least a portion of the Yforceexerted by said elastic means against the other of said valve members; and means for applying'a gas pressure force to said second valvefmember for urging said second valve member 'in 'an opening direction against said elastic vmeansso that said second valve member automatically moves toa position in which said gas 'pressure force thereon balances the elastic means force on 'said second valve member.

4. Apparatus for controlling the flow of a uid through a passage; said apparatus comprising a first valve member movable in said passage to vary said flow; a second valve member movable to vary a fluid pressure differential acting against and urging said rst valve member in an opening direction; elastic means for exerting a force against said rst valve member in a closing direction and exerting a force against said second valve member in a direction for decreasing said pressure differential, each valve member providing the reaction to at least a portion of the force exerted by said elastic means against the other valve member; a flexible diaphragm connected to said second valve member; and passage means for supplying a gas pressure to one side of said diaphragm for opposing the force exerted by said elastic means against said second valve member so that said second valve member automatically moves to a position in which said gas pressure force thereon balances the elastic means force thereon.

5. Apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid ;V said apparatus comprising a housing having a passage therethrough for said fluid, a rst valve member movable in said passage to vary said flow; a flexible bellows having one end connected to said housing and having its other end connected to said valve member to provide a chamber within said housing such that the fluid pressure in said chamber urges said valve member in a closing direction against the pressure of said uid in said passage; a restricted passageway pro- Viding communication between said passage and chamber for flow of said fluid through said restricted passageway into said chamber such that the fluid pressure drop across said restricted passageway provides a force urging said valve member in an opening direction; a second valve member movable in an opening direction to increase the rate of fluid flow through said restricted passageway into said chamber thereby increasing said pressure drop and force; elastic means for exerting valve closing forces against both said valve members, each said valve member providing the reaction to at lea-st a portion of the force exerted by said elastic means against the other valve member; a exible diaphragm connected to said second valve member; and passage means for supplying a gas pressure to one side of said diaphragm for urging said second valve member against said spring means so that said second valve member automatically moves to a position in Which the gas pressure force and elastic means force acting thereon balance.

6. Apparatus for controlling the ow of a fluid; said apparatus comprising a housing having a passage therethrough for said fluid; a poppettype rst valve member movable in said passage to vary said iiow; a ilexible bellows having a diameter substantially equal to that of said valve member and having one end connected to the rear side of said valve member to provide a chamber on said rear side suchthat the uid pressure in said chamber urges said valve in a closing direction against the pressure of said uid in said passage; a restricted passageway providing communication between said passage and chamber for ow of said fluid through said restricted passageway into said chamber such that the iiuid pressure drop across said restricted passageway provides a force urging said valve member in an opening direction; a second valve member movable in an opening direction to increase the rate of fluid iiow through said restricted passageway into said chamber thereby increasing said pressure drop and force; spring means for exerting valve closing forces against both said valve members, each said valve member providing the reaction to at least a portion of the force exerted by said elastic means against the other valve member; a flexible diaphragm connected to said second Valve member; and passage means for supplying a gas pressure to one side of said diaphragm for urging said second valve member against said spring means so that said second valve member automatically moves to a position in which the gas pressure force and elastic means force acting thereon balance.

7. Apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid through a passage; said apparatus comprising a irst valve member movable in said passage and arranged to be subject to a fluid pressure differential acting against and urging said valve member in an opening direction in response to ow of said fluid through said passage; a second valve member movable to vary said uid pressure differential acting against said rst valve member; elastic means for exerting a force against said rst valve member in a closing direction and exerting a force against said second valve member in a direction for decreasing said pressure differential, each valve member providing the reaction to at least a portion of the force exerted by said elastic means against the other valve member; a iiexible diaphragm connected to said second valve member; and passage means for supplying a gas pressure to one side of said diaphragm for opposing the force exerted by said elastic means against said second valve member so that said second valve member automatically moves to a position in which said gas pressure force thereon balances the elastic means force thereon.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 226,224 Demarest Apr, 6, 1880 2,191,076 Jacovelli Feb. 20, 1940 2,227,258 Hilmer et al Dee. 31, 1940 2,304,323 Wiegers Dec 8, 1942 

